Burial-vault



P. I. FROST.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, I919.

1,390, 1 2 1 I Patented p 6, 19211.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. 1. 7 mm.

attozneg P I. FROST.

BURIAL VAULT.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI5, 1919.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.

STATES PETER I. FROST, 0F CEDARHURST, NEW YORK.

BURIAL-VAULTQ.

Application filed May 15,

To whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER I. Fnosr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedarhurst, in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Burial-Vault, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a burial vault for the reception and protection of caskets which is constructed throughout of cement blocks or slabs connected by improved types of joints insuring rigidity'and permanency of the structure.

With this and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds the invention comprises the novel features of construction, accompanied by elements and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described in the following specification and set forth with particularity in the claim appended hereto.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved vault,

Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical sectional view therethrough,

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the vault,

Fig. 4: represents a fragmental transverse sectional view of the upper portion of a modified type of vault, and,

Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the vault cover plate removed and inverted.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the numerals 5 and 6 indicate the side and end base members of the vault which are preferably increased in thickness at their lower edges as at 7 to lend strength and rigidity to the structure and which are provided along their upper edges with longitudinal ribs 8 received in corresponding grooves 9 in the side and end walls 10 and 11. The top edges of the side and end walls are formed with longitudinal ribs 12 received within corresponding grooves formed in the bottom edges of the side and end top members 13 and 14.

The vertical edges of the side walls 10 are formed with vertical ribs 15 and 16, the inner rib 16 being of less height than the outer rib 15 and providing therebetween a groove in which is received the rib 17 formed in a recess 18 at each side of the vertical edge of the end walls 11. The rib 17 being inter- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented se t. e, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 297,382.

locked between the ribs 15 and 16 eli'ectively prevents relative movement of the side and end walls. Each side wall 10 is formed in two sections, the adjacent edges of which are of a peculiar zigzag form which, when the sections are united forms a j oint 19 substantially Z-shaped. in cross section effectively interlocking the side wall sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and thus permitting the latter to be constructed in two parts. Transversely disposed supporting beams 20 are arranged between the base side members 5 and are adaptedto support the casketin a position elevated above the gravel or other type of bottom.

The top edges of the top side and end members 13 and 14 are formed with tapered ribs 21 defining an internal shoulder 22 constituting a support for the pyramidal top or closure plate 23 having a transverse reinforcing member 2 1 formed integral therewith to increase the strength and rigidity of the top. The longitudinal edges of the top or cover are formed with spaced recesses 25 receiving the integral lugs 26 formed upon the bottom edges of the supplementary top members 27 upon which is supported the memorial cover 28 adapted to receive a suitable inscription.

If preferred, the supplementary top structure 27, memorial plate 28 and top plate23 may be removed and replaced by the cover 29 which is formed with a recess 30 of rectangular form in its underside receiving the rib 21 and forming an air tight closure.

As will be understood, the several side and end members of the vault structure are joined at their cornersby the type of joint connecting the side and end walls 10 and 11,as clearly shown in Fig. 3 so as to efiectively retain the several parts of the vault in assembled relation and in order to render the vault air tight a suitable type of packing such as felt is preferably interposed between the joined portions of the several parts.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the closure plate 23 is formed in two sections divided along a centrally disposed transverse line and the adjacent edges of the cover are preferably interlocked by a type of joint similar to that utilized to connect the members 10 and 11. Subsequent to the removal of the top members 27 the recesses 25 may be utilized as hand holds facilitating the convenient removal of the clothe inner and outer surfaces of the side and end members 13 and 14 are identical in form thereby permitting the application of the closure plate of a second vault to the shoulder 22 of the first vault and permitting several of the vaults to be assembled in a convenient, compact and economical manner.

Obviously, when the closure plate 23 is constructedin two parts the beam or brace 24 is formed separately therefrom and is seated upon the internal shoulders22 of the top members'13 to assist in supporting the closure plate and to strengthen and reinforce the entire vault structure.

/Vhat I claim is: i g V In a vault of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular base having vertical sides and end portions being enlarged at their lower edges, ribs formed on the top edges of the sides of the said base, vertical, side body walls having top ribs and bottom grooves interlocking with theribs of the sides of said base, end walls having vertical ribs interlocking in grooves formed in the ends of the side body walls, each of the side body Walls being formed of two complementary sections and having substantially Z-shaped, overlapping, interlocking meeting edges, intermediate of the wall, enlarged side and end members having bottom grooves therein superposed and interlocked with the top ribs of thevbody walls, said en- 7 larged members having tapered, top ribs confining shoulders, a sectional, reinforced closure plate having spaced recesses along its sides and ends seated on said shoulders, supplemental top members having integrally formed lugs seated 'withinthesaid recesses, and retaining the closure plate in position on said enlarged members, and a memorial top structure seated on and interlocked with the supplemental top members.

'In testimony whereoflxI aflix my signaturehereto. a r

" PETE I. FROST. 

